Self-contained air-conditioning unit



y 1950 H. s. WOODRUFF 2,505,758

SELF-CONTAINED AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Feb. 27, 1947 9 INVENTOR.

BY W

Patented May 9, 1950 SELF-CONTAINED AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT Henry S. Woodrufl, Cazenovla, N. Y., assignor to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application rem-my 27, 1947, Serial No. 781,363

1 Claim.

1 This invention relates to self-contained air conditioning units and more particularly to a self-contained air conditioning unit including means for supplying a minor portion of conditioned air to the refrigeration compartment to cool heat generating elements therein.

In self-contained air conditioning units, customary practice has been to cool heat generating elements in the refrigeration or machine compartment by the provision of finned heat exchange coils in the compartment; cooling water is circulated through said coils to cool the air in said compartment, raised in temperature by the heat generating members. While this system maintains the temperature in the machine or refrigeration compartment at a desired point, it considerably increases the initial cost of the unit due to the expense of the coils and to the plurality of connections which need be made.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained air conditioning unit including economical means for cooling the refrigeration compartment.

An object is to provide a self-contained air conditioning unit containing a. duct connecting the discharge end of the fan with the refrigeration compartment to permit a minor portion of cooled air to be supplied to the machine compart ment in heat exchange relation with elements therein.

A further object is to provide a self-contained air conditioning unit including means for withdrawing a minor portion of cooled dehumidified air from the fan and for supplying such cooled dehumidified air to the refrigeration compartment. Other objects of my invention will be readily perceived from the following description.

This invention relates to a self-contained air conditioning unit which comprises in combination a heat exchange member for conditioning air, means for drawing air to be conditioned through said memberrand for discharging the conditioned air from the unit, a refrigeration compartment containing heat generating elements of the system, and a duct connecting the discharge end of said means and the compartment whereby a minor portion of conditioned air is supplied by said means to the compartment in heat exchange relation with elements therein.

The attached drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the self-contained air conditioning unit of my invention; and

Figure 2 is a plan view of the unit shown in 2 Figure 1, having the upper compartment removed.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a selfcontained air conditioning unit designated generally at 2. Preferably, unit 2 comprises a plurality of separate compartments 3, 4 and 5, each having top walls 6, side walls I, and bases I. Compartment 3 comprises the refrigeration or machine compartment of unit 2, and contains heat generating members of the refrigeration system, for example, the compressor 9 and the motor It. Condenser H may be disposed in compartment 3 and may comprise a shell and coil structure, the refrigerant therein being cooled by cooling water passing through the coil. An

opening I2 is provided in the top wall 6 of compartment 3 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Compartment 4 contains the evaporator I 3 oi the system which may be supported in desired position by the walls thereof and which is connected to the condenser H and compressor 8 as is customary; filters l4 and a centrifugal fan ll supported by the side walls 1 thereof are also disposed in compartment 4. A grille I is provided in the front wall 6 of compartment 4 to permit air from the area being conditioned to be drawn within the compartment through filters l4 and evaporator l3.

Cooled air is discharged by fan I 5 into compartment I. Compartment 5 contains a grille II to permit the cooled air to be distributed within the area being conditioned.

A duct It connects the discharge end of fan IS with the opening l2 in the top wall 6 of compartment 3. Duct I8 includes a portion i3 extending into the stream of discharged air being supplied by fan ii to compartment 5. Extended portion IS in efiect forms a scoop to direct a minor portion of the air within duct l8. Duct It extends in a horizontal direction adjacent the top wall 6 of compartment 4 and then in a vertical direction adjacent a side wall I of compartment 4 to the opening I! in the top wall of compartment 3.

In operation of the unit, the motor ll and compressor 9 generate heat. Fan l5 draws air from the area being conditioned through the filters [4 and evaporator I3 to filter and to cool the air. Fan l5 then supplies the filtered, cooled air to compartment 5 for distribution through grille I'I to the area being conditioned. Scoop ll directs a minor portion oi? the filtered, cooled air into duct It; the pressure created by Ian ll forces such air through duct It to compartment 8. In compartment 3 the cooled air passes over the 3 heatcreatingelementssochaseompueesorland motorllandservestocoolthessme.

This invention provides an inexpensive and ready means whereby heat creating elements oi said compartment and supported by the 4 said that compartment cooling medium being suppliedtosaidcondenserinheatexchangerelation with refrigerant therein, am! a duet disposed in said llrst compartment connecting the discharge end of the tan with said third oompartment, said duct having an extended portion extending within the path or the discharged streamoicooledairtodirectcooledairwithin the duct, said duct extending in a horizontal direction adjacent the top wall of said first compartment and then extending in a vertical direction adjacent a side wall thereof to form a passage between the discharge end of said fan and the third compartment whereby a minor portion of conditioned air is supplied by the fan to said third compartment in heat exchange relation with the compressor and motor therein.

HENRY S. WOODRUTI'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,112,221 Sargent et a! Mar. 22, 1938 2,155,831 Hull Apr. 25, 1939 2,243,478 Knoy May 27, 1941 2,309,224 Terry et a1 Jan. 26, 1943 2,332,730 Kucher Oct. 26, 1948 2,441,852 Spoiiord May 18, 194B 

